Campus School on The University of Memphis is the No. 1 elementary school in Memphis and one of the top elementary schools in Tennessee, according to the 2008 Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program scores.
"Campus School is the best school in the state of Tennessee," said third-grade Campus School teacher Suzanne Counts. "There is no doubt."
The TCAP is a timed, multiple choice test given to third- through eighth-grade students to measure their skills in reading, language arts, mathematics, science and social studies.
Within the Memphis City School District, Campus School received the best scores of the elementary schools in all TCAP test subjects.
According to a study released Wednesday, Memphis high school graduation rates declined 1.2 percent from last year, ranking 29 out of the 50 largest metro school districts in the nation, as other cities gained 4.5 percent with their graduation rates.
Despite Memphis City School District's poor ranking in those studies, on the corner of Zack Curlin Street and Walker Avenue is an elementary school proud of its top-ranking status in education.
Compared to 950 other elementary schools in Tennessee, Campus School found itself to be in the top 20 in reading and language arts, earning the ninth-highest score with a 70.
"We are very proud of our academic standing in the district and the state," said Director of Campus School Susan Copeland. "It is especially gratifying as there are no academic requirements for admission to Campus School as is typical in many of high performing schools."
But it isn't just the high TCAP scores that make Campus School a "unique" elementary school, Copeland said. She said it's based on the growth of the students.
"Are all of the students learning and growing at high levels? At Campus School, the answer is a resounding yes," Copeland said.
Campus school, which teaches first through sixth grade is a public school controlled by The U of M in the Memphis City School District.
The University's College of Education students prepare to become teachers and conduct research through the Campus School by working with faculty members as student teachers, said college dean Don Wagner. Campus School has more than 600 visits from the college's students every year, Copeland said.
Wagner, like Copeland, said he is proud of where Campus School stands academically.
"The students there get a wonderful education, and that's reflected in their performance on a variety of standardized tests. They do an excellent job," he said.
Campus School's reading and language arts score on the TCAP tests were 22.8 percent above Tennessee's average scores for the subject. The school also performed above the state TCAP average in mathematics, social studies and science.
The elementary school also scored 34.6 percent higher than Davidson County's average TCAP results for reading and language arts. Davidson County is home to Nashville's elementary schools.
Along with the hundreds of visits from U of M students, the elementary school receives more than 6,000 visitors from people around the world, Coleman said. Instructors who have taught in other countries are flocking to Campus School for an opportunity to teach, she said.
"I have taught in many states and overseas, and I can truly say my 19 years at this school have been the best," Counts said.
Dedication and incessant support of the elementary school from faculty at Campus School as well as the parents are what make it the best school at which she has taught, she said.
Other faculty members attribute it to the continual search for new techniques and maintaining the "diverse, exemplary work taking place here," Coleman said.
"While we follow the same curriculum as Memphis City Schools, we have the freedom to test new strategies and implement models of instruction based on current research and future trends," she said. "We help train new teachers, work with practicing teachers and are highly committed to increasing the capacity of our profession."
New to Campus School this year, second-grade supervising teacher Logan Prevette also said the innovative teaching practices the school researches and applies to the curriculum make it a high-quality facility.
"The teachers I work with are always seeking out the best (research-based) practice on how to teach a topic or how to effectively teach a 'hard-to-reach' student," Prevette said. "My colleagues are experts in their field but are willing and continue to adapt if another methodology proves to be more beneficial for their students."
While Coleman said there is no "secret formula" to an effective school, a successful school has teachers who are fully committed to the children, parents who support the school and a community that values the accomplished work.
"We see ourselves as more than 'school.' For us, Campus School is a family of learners -our relationships are critical to our success," she said.
"We are a true picture of what a diverse community, such as Memphis, can be if we come to it with the right attitude and great expectations. It is not always easy, but it is always worth it."
